Archive for June 19th, 2024

19/06/2024

Laws of War Likely ‘Consistently Violated’ in Israeli Strikes on Gaza: UN Human Rights Chief

Human Wrongs Watch

(UN News)* — A UN probe into the Israeli military’s bombing of Gaza has pointed to the laws of war being “consistently violated” with regard to the use of hugely powerful bombs and an alleged lack of distinction between combatants and civilians, the Organization’s human rights chief said on Wednesday [].

Parts of the city of Khan Younis are now almost unrecognizable after more than eights months of intense bombardment, UN officers report.
© UNICEF/Tess Ingram | Parts of the city of Khan Younis are now almost unrecognizable after more than eights months of intense bombardment, UN officers report.
19/06/2024

A Mother’s Plea for Peace

Human Wrongs Watch

By Mairead Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate – TRANSCEND Media Service*

To all the people of Gaza I send you my deepest love and sympathy on the death of your beloved family and friends who have been murdered by the Israeli military in its ongoing war on Gaza.

I also send my deepest sympathy to all the many thousands of Palestinians who have been injured and maimed, many of whom have not been able to access medical help due to the killing of medical staff and bombing by Israel of many hospitals.

I cannot begin to understand the depth of your pain on the loss of those you love. I can only say ‘I am sorry – please forgive me that I did not do enough to help stop this madness of military violence which cruelly took away the ones you love.’

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19/06/2024

Protracted Crises in Haiti Drive 60% Increase in Displacement since March

Human Wrongs Watch

Geneva/ Port-au-Prince, 18 June 2024 (IOM)*  – Nearly 580,000 people are internally displaced across Haiti, a 60 per cent increase since March, according to the latest data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the country.

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“The figures we see today are a direct consequence of years of spiraling violence – that reached a new high in February – and its catastrophic humanitarian impact,” said Philippe Branchat, head of the IOM in Haiti.

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19/06/2024

‘Small Arms Are the Leading Cause of Violent Deaths Globally and Are the Weapon of Choice in Nearly Half of All Global Homicides’

Human Wrongs Watch

(UN News)* — A conference focused on small arms and light weapons is taking place at a “difficult and dangerous moment for humanity,” according to the UN Chief António Guterres.

The ruins of a weapons storage facility in Tripoli, Libya. (file)
© UNICEF/Giovanni Diffidenti | The ruins of a weapons storage facility in Tripoli, Libya. (file)

Delivering remarks in New York on behalf of the Secretary-General at a meeting aimed at eradicating the illicit trade in small arms, Izumi Nakamitsu, the head of the UN Office of Disarmament Affairs, warned on Tuesday [] that military expenditures continue to rise across the globe.

New conflicts are placing millions of people in the line of fire, and small arms and light weapons play a major role in these conflicts, she said.

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